Montana Sky

turn his mount and melt in among the men who fanned out over the hills, looking to be heroes.
    He was the only one who knew a hero’s work was already done.
     
    “S MOKE .” WILLA WAS THE FIRST TO CATCH THE SCENT . HER saddle creaked as she rose in it, concentrated. “There’ssmoke.” And with it the first true tug of hope pulled at her heart. “Adam?”
    “Up ahead. I can’t see it, but it’s there.”
    “He built a fire,” Ben murmured. “Stupid bastard.”
    Though they hadn’t discussed it, they moved into a trot and now rode three abreast. And the first thin light broke in the east.
    “I know this place. Adam, we did some rock climbing in the ravine near here.” Ben’s jaw tightened. “Caves, lots of little caves. Decent shelter.”
    “I remember.” Only the memory of the gun against Lily’s temple kept Adam from breaking into a gallop. His eyes had grown accustomed to the dark, and they narrowed now against the gently growing dawn. And they were sharp. “There!” He pointed ahead at the thin gray column of smoke just as Charlie’s high, frantic barking echoed.
    “Found them.” Before Willa could speak, Ben blocked her mount with his. “Stay here.”
    “The hell I will.”
    “Do what you’re told for once, goddamn it.”
    He knew that bark. It wasn’t the excitement of a find, it was the signal for a kill. He could already tell from the set of her chin that she wasn’t going to obey any order. But she might listen to a plan.
    “He’s armed,” Ben reminded her. “Maybe we can flush him. If we do, we need you back here, with your rifle. You’re a better shot than Adam. Damn near as good as me. Odds are he’s not expecting we brought a woman, so he’ll be focused on us.”
    Because it made sense, she nodded. “All right. We try it that way first.” She looked over at Adam as she pulled out her gun. “I’ll cover you.”
    He dismounted, met Ben’s eyes. “Remember” was all he said.
    They parted there, one to the left, one to the right to flank the opening of the cave where the small fire was down to fading smoke. Willa steadied Moon with her knees and waited, watched them. They moved in sync, men who had hunted together since childhood and knew each other’sthoughts. A hand signal, a nod, and the pace changed, quick, but not rushed.
    Her heart began to knock against her ribs as they neared the cave. Her breath caught in her lungs, clogged there as she braced for the shattering sound of gunfire, of screams, or of the horrific sight of blood splattering over snow.
    She prayed, the words repeating over and over in her head in English, in her mother’s tongue, then in a desperate mixture of both as she pleaded with any god who would listen to help.
    Then she drew a breath, forced it out. Steadying herself, she lifted her rifle and drew a bead on the mouth of the cave.
    It was Lily who stumbled out into the crosshairs.
    “My God.” She forgot her duty, her post, and kicked Moon forward in a gallop. Lily was already in Adam’s arms, being rocked in the trampled snow, when Willa slid off her horse. “Is she hurt? Is she all right?”
    “She’s burning up. Fever.” Desperate, Adam pressed his face to hers as if to cool it. Even thoughts of vengeance vanished as she shuddered against him. “We’ve got to get her back quickly.”
    “Inside,” Lily managed, and burrowed into Adam. “Inside. Jesse. Oh, God.”
    “Inside?” Willa’s head whipped up, and all the fear came roaring back. “Ben?” She said his name the first time, then shouted it as she ran toward the cave.
    He was quick, but not quite quick enough to stop her from getting in, from seeing what was spread out on the floor of the cave.
    “Get out.” He blocked her view with his body, took her hard by the shoulders. “Go out now.”
    “But how?” Blood, a sea of it. The gaping throat, the split belly, the brutal lifting of the trophy of hair. “Who?”
    “Get out.” He turned her roughly, shoved her. “Stay out.”
    She made it as far as the opening, then had to lean on the rock. Sweat had popped cold to her skin, and her stomach heaved viciously. She sucked in air, each breath arasping sob until she was sure she wouldn’t faint or be sick.
    Her vision cleared, and she watched Adam bundling Lily into his coat. “I have a thermos of coffee in my saddlebags. It should still be warm.” Willa straightened, ordered her legs to hold her weight. “Let’s try to get some into her, then we’ll take